Mthobisi Nozulela | Published 23 minutes ago
As tax season approaches and taxpayers scramble to understand whether they owe money or will receive a refund, many South Africans are looking to SARS for answers on whether they will need to file a return at all.
IOL previously reported that the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has confirmed the key dates for the 2026 tax filing season, with auto-assessments set to run between 1 and 12 July 2026 for selected taxpayers.
SARS will once again be rolling out its auto-assessment system for the 2026 filing season, which could see millions of taxpayers receive refunds without submitting a tax return.
The system uses information already provided by employers, banks, medical schemes and other institutions to calculate taxpayers’ positions automatically.
However, some taxpayers may not know whether they have been included in the process or if they will still be required to file a return themselves.
According to SARS, taxpayers who are selected for auto-assessment will receive an SMS or email notification between 1 and 12 July 2026.
How to check if you will be auto-assessed
"You can check your status online by visiting the SARS Online Query System (SOQS) and click “ My Auto Assessment Status”.
The message will indicate whether a refund is due or if an amount is payable to SARS. If the information is correct, no action is required, and refunds will be paid directly into the taxpayer’s registered bank account.
However, those who are not selected for auto-assessment will need to submit their own income tax returns during the filing season, which opens on 13 July 2026 for non-provisional taxpayers.
The revenue service has also urged taxpayers to be cautious of scams during the tax season, warning that fraudsters often send fake SMS messages and emails pretending to be SARS in an attempt to obtain personal or banking details.
"You need to be aware of email and SMS scams. In the run up to Filing Season there will be many attempts from scammers to mimic what we do and try and get your personal details, or to pay money into an account. See the latest scams here ".
"To report or to get more information on phishing, please send an email to [email protected] .
[email protected]
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Read the full article at IOL (Independent Online) →📄Source document: South African Revenue Service (SARS)→2 reports
News24IndependentCenter2 days agoSouth Africa's South African Revenue Service (SARS) has introduced an 'early-warning' system during tax season to help taxpayers avoid audits by identifying potential issues before they arise.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a policy implementation by SARS without apparent ideological framing, loaded language, or one-sided sourcing. It focuses on the introduction of a new system aimed at improving taxpayer compliance and reducing audit burdens, with no clear indication of political bias in the phr
Official sources cited
- government South African Revenue Service (SARS)
IOL (Independent Online)IndependentCenter6 days agoAs tax season approaches, South Africans are checking with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to determine if they need to file a tax return. SARS is implementing an auto-assessment system for the 2026 tax season, which will use data from employers, banks, and other institutions to calculate taxpayers' positions automatically. Taxpayers selected for auto-assessment will receive notifications via SMS or email between 1 and 12 July 2026. They can also check their status through the SARS Online Query System (SOQS).
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about SARS's auto-assessment system for the 2026 tax season. It explains the process, how taxpayers can check their status, and what to expect. There is no evident framing or slant in the language, sourcing, or emphasis. The content remains neutral and does.
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